Photo gallery: A history of Skokie

Oct. 17, 2012

Skokie's initial growth spurt came after Chicago & North Western Railroad established a line through town in 1903, according to the village. The population grew so quickly that Skokie was once called "The World's Largest Village." It now sports a population of 65,000. Take a look at some classic photos from the Chicago Tribune archives.

June 15, 1941: The Fairview School in Skokie closed recently after serving the community for 44 years. The school could no longer handle the area's growing population. — Tribune archive photo, Chicago Tribune, Sept. 16, 2014

Aug. 6, 1973: A boy participating in the Skokie Park District community parade and carnival at Oakton Park is whacked in the face with wet sponges. Games of all sorts were offered by youngsters at the carnival, part of the district's summer program. — Ovie Carter, Chicago Tribune, Sept. 16, 2014

July 7, 1975: Members of the Skokie Police Department show up for work in street clothes to protest the village's "disrespect of their uniforms" because of an unsatisfactory pay agreement. — Lynette Miller, Chicago Tribune, Sept. 16, 2014

July 11, 1975: Wives of Skokie police officers continue their occupation of the municipal building in a move to force village officials to negotiate with their husbands over pay demands. — Hardy Weiting, Chicago Tribune, Sept. 16, 2014

March 3, 1976: Firefighters keep a heavy stream of water on the remains of the warehouse of Sounds Unlimited, 7440 Niles Center Road. The building was destroyed by an explosion and fire, killing one person. — Val Mazzenga, Chicago Tribune, Sept. 16, 2014

Sept. 11, 1978: Nortran drivers went on strike, which led many people at the Skokie Swift station to wait for private driver rides or taxis in lieu of buses. — Tribune archive photo, Chicago Tribune, Sept. 16, 2014

Dec. 11, 1981: A log cabin, originally built in the 1840s, is being rebuilt in the back of the Old Skokie Fire House, which will soon be the home for the Skokie Historical Society. — John Dziekan, Chicago Tribune, Sept. 16, 2014

Feb. 7, 1985: Nine people, mostly elderly or handicapped, were injured when a van of the Maine-Niles Association for Special Recreation and a car collided in Skokie. Police said the driver of the van, which was traveling westbound on Church Street, applied his brakes too late for a red light at Skokie Boulevard and skidded into the intersection. After impact, the car, carrying three people, rammed into a light pole. The van's driver was cited for running a red light, police said. — Chuck Berman, Chicago Tribune, Sept. 16, 2014